National Iced Tea Day

Jun 9, 2026 | Food Blog

National Iced Tea Day is observed on June 10th each year and celebrates the popular beverage. Iced tea has been around for centuries, although it has changed significantly over time. The earliest known iced tea recipes date back to the 1700s, when British people mixed tea with ice and other ingredients to make a cold drink.

The earliest published recipe for iced tea appears in a book published in 1879 called Housekeeping in Old Virginia. The recipe calls for green tea, sugar, and ice cubes and is described as a “delicious and healthful beverage for warm weather.”

The recipe for iced tea from Housekeeping in Old Virginia is as follows:

  • Take one quart of boiling water
  • Add two teaspoons of green tea
  • Let steep for five minutes
  • Strain the tea into a pitcher
  • Add two tablespoons of sugar
  • Add a quart of cold water
  • Add a few ice cubes
  • Stir and enjoy!

 

Iced tea was first popularized in the United States in the late 1800s when a tea merchant in New York decided to cold-brew the tea leaves to appeal to a larger customer base.

Richard Blechynden was the first person to create iced tea in the United States. He was a tea merchant from New York. In 1893, Blechynden was trying to sell tea at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago but was having difficulty because the hot summer weather made it difficult for people to drink hot tea. To make his tea more appealing, he decided to cold-brew the tea leaves and serve it over ice. The result was an instant hit and iced tea quickly became a popular summer beverage.

From there, iced tea quickly became a favorite summer drink in the United States, and iced tea soon spread to other countries around the world. Today, iced tea is enjoyed in many different varieties, including sweetened, unsweetened, and flavored. As iced tea gained popularity, it spread to other countries around the world.

There are many different varieties of iced tea, including sweetened, unsweetened, flavored, and herbal. Popular flavors of iced tea include lemon, raspberry, peach, mango, and green tea. Additionally, iced tea can be served with milk, fruit juices, and other ingredients to create unique and flavorful combinations.

According to the Tea Association of the USA, Americans consume around 1.6 billion gallons of iced tea each year. This makes iced tea the most popular type of tea consumed in the United States. As for the world, it is estimated that around 3 billion gallons of iced tea are consumed annually.

  

Fun Facts About Iced Tea

  • The world’s largest glass of iced tea was made in 2013 and contained over 700 gallons of tea.
  • Iced tea can be made with any type of tea, including black, green, oolong, and herbal.
  • Iced tea was once used as a form of currency by Native American tribes in the southern United States.
  • Iced tea is the official state beverage of South Carolina.
  • The world record for the longest line of iced tea is 1,094 meters and was set in 2012.
  • The world record for the most people drinking iced tea simultaneously is 8,959 and was set in 2008.

 

Most Famous People for Iced Tea

  • Richard Blechynden is credited with creating the first iced tea recipe in the United States.
  • Lipton is a famous brand of iced tea that has been around since the early 1900s.
  • Robert Fortune is credited with introducing black tea to the Western world and popularizing iced tea in the United States.

National Iced Tea Day is a great opportunity to celebrate one of the world’s most popular beverages. Whether you prefer sweetened, unsweetened, flavored, or herbal, iced tea is a delicious and refreshing way to enjoy tea. So why not take a break today and enjoy a nice cold glass of iced tea? Let us know in the comments your favorite iced tea.

 

 

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